MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Turkish authorities’ latest claims the Russian air group in Syria has allegedly been attacking civilian targets and population in Syria have nothing to do with the reality, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website.

"Ankara’s wish to unleash an anti-Russian campaign is regarded as an obvious reaction that followed shortly after our country exposed Turkey’s complicity in illegal activities in the north of Syria, including connivance with oil smuggling from the Islamic State-controlled fields and various assistance to extremist and terrorist groups," the commentary runs. Islamic State is outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization.

The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that "this populist move will fail to distract the world public’s attention from Turkey’s destructive polices in Syria."